MAF (Material File) Format

MAF (MAterial data File) is a data file format to store material data. Each material is described in a file which has as a prefix the material's name and as type .md. For example, the copper is defined by the material's name Copper and is described in file Copper.md.
A MAF file is a simple text file containing the definition of any material.
The main principle is that any information in the file is contained in a line and is defined by a keyword following the rules :

• The first line must contain at the first columns the string #MATERIAL!
• Keyword Name starts a line that gives the material's name. A string must follow this keyword.
• Each material property must be introduced by a line starting with its name and then with the property data. For instance the line
  

     Density  Value  2350

• Available material properties are : Density, SpecificHeat, ThermalConductivity, MeltingTemperature, EvaporationTemperature, ThermalExpansion, LatentHeatForMelting, LatentHeatForEvaporation, DielectricConstant, ElectricConductivity, ElectricResistivity, MagneticPermeability, Viscosity, YoungModulus, PoissonRatio. Their meaning is obvious.
• Values can be given after the keyword Value. This is in expectation of other ways to introduce properties. Then the value assigned to the property is to be given either as a floating number or as a function of x, y, z and t which are respectively a point coordinates and a time value. The library contains an expression parser to handle this expression. The parser accepts any known function. If a blank character is to be used in the expression, the quotes " must be inserted before and after the expression.
• The last line of the MAF file must contain the keyword EOF (as End Of File).